Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls for Government to Provide a Universal ‘Guaranteed Income’

“A guaranteed income,” says the site, “is a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and can be a tool for racial and gender equity.”

As introduced by Omar, her online video discussion with Carter and Tubbs focused on promoting a government guaranteed income.

“Good evening everyone, welcome, welcome,” said Omar. “So, tonight we are here to talk about economic justice and moving toward a guaranteed income.”

“What is a guaranteed income?” she said. “Just like Social Security it provides a regular check to every American so they can buy the things they need like housing, food and other essentials. In recent years, guaranteed income has gained traction as a policy antidote to poverty and rising wealth and income inequality.”

Here is a transcript of Omar’s introduction to her discussion with Mayor Carter and Mayor Tubbs about a guaranteed income:

“Good evening everyone, welcome, welcome. So, tonight we are here to talk about economic justice and moving toward a guaranteed income. I will be joined by two special guests: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Calif. Mayor Carter and Mayor Tubbs are both part of the mayors’ for guaranteed income coalition.

“What is a guaranteed income? Just like Social Security it provides a regular check to every American so they can buy the things they need like housing, food and other essentials. In recent years, guaranteed income has gained traction as a policy antidote to poverty and rising wealth and income inequality.

“But the idea isn’t new. The concept of a guaranteed income has deep roots in the Civil Rights Movement with Martin Luther King and others. I have sponsored a bill to guarantee income when the pandemic hit. We’ve also co-sponsored the automatic boost to communities, ABC Act, with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Premilla Jayapal.

“The legislation would immediately provide a $2,000 payment, using boost debit cards to every person in America as a critical relief during COVID-19 crisis, followed by a thousand reoccurring monthly payments for one year after the end of the crisis to help our community and families recover. In addition, I’ve sponsored a federal grant program to support localities pursuing basic income pilot, like the ones we will hear about tonight, in order to establish a national commission to study and centralized data collection and analysis of guaranteed income for institutionalized learning.”